Q 01/05

In which region of the Peloponnese was Sparta located?

A) Messenia

B) Laconia

C) Argolis

D) Arcadia

Answer · why

B) Laconia

Laconia: the region gave English the word 'laconic', because its Spartans were famous for saying a great deal in very few words.

Q 02/05

On the banks of which river was ancient Sparta built?

A) Scamander

B) Eurotas

C) Meander

D) Alpheus

Answer · why

B) Eurotas

Eurotas: Spartan boys in training slept on beds of rushes they had to break from its banks with their bare hands, because knives were not allowed.

Q 03/05

How many kings ruled Sparta at the same time?

A) Two

B) Five

C) Ten

D) Thirty

Answer · why

A) Two

Two: one king came from the Agiad family and one from the Eurypontid, both claiming descent from Heracles and equal in authority, so neither could ove...

Q 04/05

Which semi-mythical lawgiver is credited with Sparta's constitution?

A) Cleisthenes

B) Draco

C) Lycurgus

D) Solon

Answer · why

C) Lycurgus

Lycurgus: in Plutarch's telling he made the Spartans swear to keep his laws until he returned from Delphi, then starved himself to death there so the ...

Q 05/05

What was the state-owned enslaved population that made up most of Sparta's inhabitants called?

A) Spartiates

B) Helots

C) Perioikoi

D) Mothakes

Answer · why

B) Helots

Helots: every year Sparta formally declared war on them, so that killing one counted as an act of war and brought no religious guilt.